Franchise Industry News & Announcements

Dahn Yoga & Health Centers, Inc,. a national leader of health and wellness, is thrilled to announce its Brooklyn Heights studio as the Center of the Month for May. 
Gilbert, Arizona (PRWEB) May 18, 2012 - Dahn Yoga & Health Centers, Inc., a national leader in health and wellness, is proud to highlight the accomplishments of its Brooklyn Heights, New York, Dahn Yoga studio. Located in one of the most diverse boroughs of the Empire State, the center features a number of creative, high-energy participants. Students at this diverse Dahn Yoga location have been actively fostering a sense of togetherness while balancing their bodies and minds.
Center manager, Amy Long decided to become a Dahn Yoga master after attending a Young Earth Human Alliance (YEHA) camp...

Positions are Key to Supporting Growing Number of Restaurants
May 18, 2012 // Franchising.com // Auburn, AL – Simply Southern Restaurant Group, the exclusive franchisor of Chicken Salad Chick, has added four new associates to support the concept’s growing number of restaurants across the Southeast.
“We are pleased to add these strong professionals to our ranks,” said Simply Southern Restaurant Group President and CEO Kelley P. Mossburg. “Our top priority is to ensure all of our restaurants provide our customers with the same experience as they would have here in Auburn and Opelika, and these associates will help us ensure we do so.”
Fast-casual restaurant industry veteran, Lowry Croxdale, has been named director of operations with responsibilities for day to day operations for both company-owned and franchised stores...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - May. 18, 2012 - On May 17, 2011, Texas Roadhouse, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: TXRH) Board of Directors authorized the payment of a cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock. This payment will be distributed on June 29, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 13, 2012.
About Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a casual dining concept that first opened in 1993 and today operates over 375 restaurants system-wide in 47 states and one foreign country. For more information, please visit the Company’s Web site at www.texasroadhouse.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this release that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, those relating to our anticipated financial performance, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties...

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - May. 18, 2012 - Denny’s Corporation (NASDAQ: DENN), one of America’s largest full-service family restaurant chains, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to another six million shares of its common stock, in addition to repurchases previously authorized. Under the authorization, the Company may purchase common stock from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
The Company also announced that, as of May 17, 2012, it has approximately 1.6 million shares remaining in its current six million share stock repurchase program announced April 4, 2011.
The amount and timing of any purchases will depend upon a number of factors, including the price and availability of the Company's shares, trading volume and general market conditions...

May 18, 2012 // Franchising.com // The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ: WEN) announced today that the Company plans to participate in the Morgan Stanley Retail Conference in Boston at the Boston Harbor Hotel on May 23. The Company will present at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Investors and interested parties may listen to a live webcast of this event by visiting the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.aboutwendys.com.
About The Wendy’s Company
The Wendy's Company is the world's third-largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy's® system includes more than 6,500 franchise and Company restaurants in the United States and 27 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information, visit aboutwendys...

Honor Marks Third Consecutive Year Winning Category
May 18, 2012 // Franchising.com // SALT LAKE CITY – Costa Vida Restaurants, one of the nation’s fastest growing fast casual dining concepts,was named the winner in the Best Mexican/Latin American Casual Dining category for Utah’s Best of State Awards for 2012. Now in the tenth year, the Utah Best of State Awards Program recognizes excellence in a wide variety of industry sectors including business, entertainment, education, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, technology, and sports.
The Best of State Awards Program is dedicated to recognizing and promoting outstanding individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout Utah.
According to Best of State Chief Executive Officer Dana Layton, winners of the 2012 Best of State Awards have been rated and judged on their impact on the community, excellence and achievement, and innovation and originality...

Husband and wife entrepreneurial team offers comfort, convenience and friendly customer service at new automotive shop.
May 18, 2012 // Franchising.com // WACO, Texas) – Christian Brothers Automotive, the automotive repair shop creating a positive “culture shock” in town with its commitment to honesty and integrity, today announced the opening of its newest location at 101 Archway Drive in Woodway, Texas.
Situated on Highway 84, in front of Hollywood Theaters, the nearly 5,000 square-foot location will include nine service bays, as well as an upscale lobby with a home-charm décor that features leather couches, decorative lighting, artwork and hardwood floors. Customers can also enjoy free Wi-Fi service as their vehicle is serviced...

Backyard Bird Feeding and Nature Specialty Franchise Puts Underserved Children in Touch with Nature
May 18, 2012 // Franchising.com // Carmel, Ind. – The average young person spends more than 53 hours per week connected to electronic media – more absorbed in the digital world than the natural world – and Wild Birds Unlimited and the National Audubon Society are taking action.
For the sixth consecutive year, Wild Birds Unlimited, the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores, and Audubon, a more than 100 year-old conservation organization, have partnered to provide scholarships to underserved children attending National Audubon Society summer camps nationwide. Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways To Nature for Kids allows young people to connect with nature and gain a desire to preserve it for future generations...

Orlando, Florida, May 15, 2012 – Flippers Pizzeria will soon be opening its twelfth location in Central Florida at The Villages, which is located approximately 55 miles from Orlando, Florida.
The brand new pizza franchise is currently under construction in Spanish Springs Town Square at the site of the former Pauly’s Pizzeria. Owners/Founding Members Sean and Carolyn Pankalla are expanding the restaurant to accommodate 81 guests, with a new outdoor seating area for 30. Construction is currently underway.
Both Sean and Carolyn have said that they have had their eyes on the Orlando, Florida-based pizzeria brand for years, and they recently saw a need for such a high- quality product offering at The Villages.
“We’re very excited about serving the residents of The Villages,” said Sean Pankalla...

May 18, 2012 // Franchising.com // Memphis, Tenn. -  Memphis-based Merry Maids, the world’s largest home cleaning franchise, announced intentions today to hire approximately 1,000 new full and part-time positions to support its 70 company-owned locations and 400 franchised operations throughout the United States.
To support the company’s hiring plans, Merry Maids is hosting a National Hiring Week May 21 – 25 and asks for all interested and qualified candidates to apply online at jobs.merrymaids.com. Local Merry Maids managers have committed to follow up with all of the most qualified applicants within 24 hours for telephone interviews.
The company is seeking motivated and energetic applicants to apply for open teammate positions, with primary job responsibilities to professionally clean customer homes using the Merry Maids unique cleaning procedures and products...

Rockland, MA, May 9, 2012 - On May 2nd, Koko FitClub co-founders, Mike Lannon and Mary Obana, presented American Cancer Society and Relay for Life representatives with a check for $6000 on behalf of the company's franchises nationwide. The donation was the result of the first ever “5 Million Point Challenge,” a fundraising effort that capitalized on the ability of the innovative fitness club’s patented Smartraining™ technology to do something no other health clubs can do: collect and compile all the exercise activity data of its members across the country and translate it into points tallied toward a unique fundraising goal.
During the weekend of March 24-25, 2012, in the true spirit of Relay for Life, participants in 66 clubs across 27 states linked arms virtually and walked with their fellow “Koko Nuts” to raise the money for cancer research...

DEERFIELD, IL--(Marketwire - May 17, 2012) - Così, Inc. (NASDAQ: COSI), the fast casual restaurant company, today reported that it had reduced its net loss for the first quarter ended April 2, 2012 by $1,012,000 or 47% to $(1,128,000), or $(0.02) per basic and diluted common share, compared with the net loss of $(2,140,000), or $(0.04) per basic and diluted common share, reported for the 2011 first quarter.
Così's total revenues for the 2012 first quarter increased by $964,000 to $24,673,000 from $23,709,000 in the 2011 first quarter. Company-owned net restaurant sales increased by 4% or $916,000 to $23,921,000 from $23,005,000 for the 2011 first quarter due primarily to a 6.2% increase in comparable restaurant sales. Franchise fees and royalty revenues for the quarter contributed $752,000 compared to $704,000 in the 2011 first quarter...

#1 Window Coverings Franchise Creates New Division to Meet the Needs of Commercial Clients
Orange, CA (PRWEB) May 18, 2012 - Recognizing the opportunity to provide window coverings to the $1 billion commercial market, Budget Blinds, the nation‘s largest window coverings franchise, has announced the launch of BB Commercial Solutions (BBCS). With over 800 franchises in North America, Budget Blinds has a vendor alliance program and national footprint that is unmatched. These distinct competitive advantages will be incorporated into BBCS operations, placing it in prime position to dominate the fragmented commercial window coverings industry.
Whereas Budget Blinds primarily services homeowners, BBCS will cater to the specific needs of businesses and institutions such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, hospitals, schools and more...

The Gardener is excited to announce it has opened a new location in Alberta for the first time with the addition of its new Calgary South location. The Gardener would like to welcome Calgary owner Kevin Linstead to the team.
Markham, Ontario (PRWEB) May 18, 2012 - The Gardener has extended its yard maintenance services into the province of Alberta for the first time with the addition of its new Calgary location. The Gardener is pleased to add Calgary owner Kevin Linstead to the team.
Opening a franchise location in a new province is certainly a momentous occasion for the team at The Gardener. With a location in Calgary South the company is eager to share its award winning customer service with the Calgary population.
As a long standing resident of Calgary, owner Kevin Linstead is excited to take part in the local economy...

DENVER, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The national median home price rose for the third straight month in April, indicating that a housing recovery is strengthening in 2012. In the 53 metropolitan areas surveyed by the RE/MAX National Housing Report, median home prices were 3.2% higher than March and a solid 5.9% higher than April 2011. After 18 consecutive months of year-over-year price declines, February was the first month home prices experienced an increase. Now, March and April have followed suit creating a positive trend. The market continues to show strength with home sales 4.1% higher than April 2011. April becomes the 10th month sales have pushed higher than the same month a year earlier. Inventory, Months Supply and Days on Market are all trending lower...

New Company Fills Niche for Empowering the Mobility-Challenged in Dallas/Fort Worth
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 17, 2012 - Gordon and Jennifer Raney of Dallas are the owners/operators of 101 Mobility’s latest Texas Franchise serving the Greater Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex. 101 Mobility Dallas/Fort Worth will join the Austin, Houston, and San Antonio franchises in a recent string of 101 Mobility openings across the Lone Star State.
The Raneys bring with them years of experience in corporate America. Jennifer Raney formerly worked in sales and marketing for brands such as Rubbermaid and Deloitte; Gordon Raney in corporate finance and commercial real estate, with names like PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Invesco, respectively. Both are graduates of Tulane University, and met while pursuing their undergraduate degrees in accounting and finance...

Bottle & Bottega to Open in La Grange, IL as Company Continues to Seek Savvy Professionals Across the Country.
Chicago, IL, May 18, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Bottle & Bottega, a premier corporate and social event business that creates fun and unique artistic experiences paired with wine, announced the sale of another franchise location, this time in the La Grange, IL market, a suburb just outside Chicago, the company’s headquarters and home to its flagship studio. The new owners, Paul and Meg LeFaivre, call La Grange home and will launch their business on June 11, 2012.
“Interest in Bottle & Bottega franchise territories has been very strong since our launch, especially in our home state of Illinois, and we couldn’t be more pleased and encouraged to welcome our newest franchise less than 6 months from the launch of our franchise program,” says Nancy Bigley, the company’s CEO and Co-owner...

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Yesterday, amidst 4,000 cheering Domino’s Pizza spectators, Pali Grewal won the 2012 World’s Fastest Pizza Maker title. Grewal, a Domino’s franchise owner from the United Kingdom, made three large pizzas in an impressive 43.9 seconds. That’s making three pizzas in about 14 seconds each! Pali won $3,000 in prize money, a trophy and the coveted title of Fastest Pizza Maker presented by Domino’s President and CEO, Patrick Doyle.
“I am elated to have retained the World’s Fastest Pizza Maker Competition,” said Grewal. “The more you put into the competition, the more you get out. I like to train hard and fight easy – and having won it for the first time in 2010, I had no intention of letting the title go...

Jamelyn Pulse Wins A Year of Free Barbecue in Smokin' Pin Wins Contest
DALLAS, May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants announced that Jamelyn Pulse of The Colony is the winner of its Pinterest contest, Smokin' Pin Wins. The world's largest barbecue franchise launched its Pinterest brand page earlier this year and fired up the contest asking Dickey's barbecue fanatics to post photos and recipes using any Dickey's meat or sides in a contest called "Smokin' Pin Wins."
"The contest was a lot of fun and a great way to roll out our presence on Pinterest," said Joette Young, director of marketing for Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "Dickey's fans were very creative using our ingredients and also with the pictures they submitted...

By Posting Pictures of Their Favorite Veterans and Active Duty Troops
Local Applebee’s Offer 30 Percent Military Discount Every Monday
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 16, 2012-- Continuing its support of the neighborhood’s real heroes, the 46 Kansas City-area Applebee’s invite guests to post pictures of their favorite veterans and active duty military on local Applebee’s Facebook pages on May 19, Armed Forces Day.
Our local Facebook pages are available for grateful guests to honor their favorite member of the armed forces,” said Bob Rentfro, Applebee’s director of operations. “It’s another way for us to thank our military heroes who sacrifice so much to keep our neighborhoods safe...